Templates for switch setting in computer control

ABSTRACT

Templates for simultaneously setting a number of toggle switches in a row such as during bootstrap loading of a computer. An elongated rectangular template having a series of teeth extending inwardly toward the computer panel is movable upward and downward with one end in slidable contact with a guide bar for positioning the template relative to the computer panel. Moving the template upward with the teeth under the handles sets a preselected group of switches to the IN position and, conversely, moving the template downward with the teeth above the handles sets the switches back to the &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;reset&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; position.

United States Patent Haase TEMPLATES FOR SWITCH SETTING [N COMPUTER CONTROL 1451 May 27, 1975 Primary Examiner-Herman J. Hohauser Attorney, Agent. or Firm-Arsen Tashjian [75] Inventor: Kurt H. Haase, Watertown, Mass.

[73] Assignee: The United States of America as [57] ABSTRACT ".Presemed by Secretary of the Templates for simultaneously setting a number of tog- Force washmgton gle switches in a row such as during bootstrap loading [22] Filed: Nov. 7, 1973 of a computer. An elongated rectangular template having a series of teeth extending inwardly toward the [211 App! 4l3730 computer panel is movable upward and downward with one end in slidable contact with a guide bar for [52] U.S. Cl 200/46; 200/46 p n ng h pl e relati o the computer [51] Int. Cl. .l H0111 43/08 p n Moving the mpl pward with the teeth [58] Field of Search 200/42 R, 43, 44, 45, 46 under the handles sets a preselected group of switches to the IN position and, conversely, moving the tem- [561 Ref r Cit d. plate downward with the teeth above the handles sets UNITED STATES PATENTS the switches back to the reset position.

1112.379 11 H963 1101261 200/46 1 Claim. 4 Drawing Figures 001-44 1 z o 3 1 B y gy-0 QOIOlO OOOOOllOO' 4 l l Zl 1" T K K 25 452/ 2 23 27 Pmwmmm 1975 001P4Z- B/MMy-O 00: a r, goao o: i 09:

IEQZA TEMPLATES FOR SWITCH SETTING IN COMPUTER CONTROL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a template for simultaneously setting a number of toggle switches during bootstrap loading of a computer and. more particu larly, the invention is concerned with providing a group of templates each of which includes a series of teeth corresponding to a specific group of toggle switches on a computer control panel so that a single upward movement of one of the templates will cause the corresponding group of switches to be set to the IN position.

In working with computers. it very often is necessary to throw a larger number of toggle switches from their reset' to the IN position. Although the switches are in a row on the control panel, it is necessary that they be set in a preselected order and manner. In a typical minicomputer such as The Datamate-l6 Computer of Datamate Computer Systems, Inc. or the DM-I6 Computer of Ling Electronics, Anaheim, California, the bootstrap loading procedure makes it necessary to set 16 toggle switches in a preselected order in 24 setting steps. It is customary to identify the switches in a row by octal numbers which means that the operator must convert one octal digit to three binary digits. This would involve the committing to memory of the octal-binary conversion table and the switching of each of certain groups of three in a particular manner to obtain the proper input.

For example, the computer instructions would say Enter on load 126031,, which is an octal number that must be converted to binary form for loading the bootstrap program. This would involve a long row of toggle switches which are generally placed on the computer panel in groups of three from right to left. In the first group of three switches in the utmost right position, switch No. has to be activated to IN while switches l and 2 remain reset. This arrangement operates to load the binary number 001 which corresponds to octal I. In the second group of three switches 3 and 4 are switches IN while switch No. 5 remains reset thereby loading the binary 011 corresponding to octal 3. In the third group of switches No. 6, 7 and 8, all of the switches remain "reset" to load the binary 000 corre sponding to octal 0. In the fourth group of switches No. 9, l0 and 11, switch No. 9 remains *reset" while 9 and 10 are activated to IN to load the binary 110 corresponding to octal 6. If the fifth group of switches No. l2, l3 and 14, switch No. I3 is activated to IN while switches 12 and 14 remain reset to load the binary 010 which corresponds to octal 2. In the final group of switches, No. 15 is switched IN while 17 and 18 remain reset" thereby loading binary 001 corresponding to octal 1. Thus, by the above noted series of switch setting steps, the octal No. 126031,, is loaded into the computer.

From the foregoing description of the steps involved in loading one octal number into a computer, it can be seen that the loading of 24 six digit octal numbers required to bootstrap load the Datamate-l6 can become a very tedious and time consuming operation. Regardless of how much experience and training the computer operator has gained. with the large number of switching operations involved. there is a good chance that one or more switch settings will be incorrect thereby overthrowing the entire bootstrap loading procedure.

It would be most desirable to provide a bootstrap loading system whereby any possibility of setting a wrong switch can be excluded and whereby the loading can be achieved in a fraction of the time normally required. Also. the operation should be capable of being accomplished by personnel with little or no knowledge of computer loading and without the present necessity of memorizing the octal-binary conversion table.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is concerned with providing a series of templates, each of which corresponds to an octal number to be bootstrap loaded into a computer. Each of the templates which are substantially rectangular in configuration includes a series of teeth extending inwardly toward the computer panel. One end of the elongated template is in slidable contact with a guide bar so as to thereby position the template relative to the panel which includes a series of toggle switches mounted in a long row. Moving the template upward with the teeth under certain of the switch handles sets a pro-selected number of switches to the IN position and leaves other of the switches in the reset position. Likewise, moving the template downward with the teeth above the switch handles sets the switches back to the reset" position.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a series of templates for bootstrap loading multidigit octal numbers into a minicomputer by a single upward movement of one template for each particular octal number.

Another object of the invention is to provide a template for loading a computer wherein the instructions given in octal numbering system can be loaded directly in binary form without converting from one numbering system to the other.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a template which is simple and easy to use by relatively untrained personnel and which requires only a single movement to enter or load a multi-digit octal number into a minicomputer designed to receive binary information. This is accomplished by setting a selected group of toggle switches to the IN position while leaving the others in the reset position.

A further object of the invention is to provide a series of templates for switch setting in computer control. The templates are positioned in order on a wire ring so that they can be used in sequence to bootstrap load the computer quickly and easily without chance of error.

These and other objects, features and advantages will become more apparent after considering the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings and appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an idealized diagrammatic view of a template according to the invention showing the computer panel with the toggle switches in a row with the guide bar on the left side to contact the left end of the tern plate;

FIG. 2 is a view of a set of templates in sequence on a wire ring and positioned to be used for a bootstrap loading procedure;

FIG. 3A is an enlarged view of one of the computer panel toggle switches in the reset position; and

FIG. 3B is an enlarged view of a toggle switch in the IN position.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings. there is shown a preferred embodiment of the switch setting templates for computer control according to the invention which includes the template l3 of substantially elongated rectangular configuration. A series of teeth I5 are disposed on the inner side of the template 13 extending inwardly therefrom toward the computer control panel 17. A series of toggle switches 19 arranged in a long horizontal row are positioned on the computer control panel 17. Each of the toggle switches 19 includes a toggle hinge 21 and a handle 23. The details of the toggle switches 19 are shown most clearly in FIGS. 3A and 3B.

In the embodiment of the invention herein described, the toggle switches 19 are arranged in groups of three from right to left with the handles 23 extending outward toward the inner side of the template 13 to engage the teeth 15. On the left side of the computer panel 17 there is positioned a guide bar 25 which operatively engages the left end surface of the template 13 to thereby fix its position and register the teeth thereon with the corresponding switch handles 23. To load or enter a particular number into the computer, the corresponding template 13 is positioned with the teeth 15 under the switch handles 23. The left end of template 13 is in sliding contact with the guide bar 25 and when the template is moved upward, the handle 23 in contact with the teeth 15 are forced to pivot on the hinges 21 and cause certain of the switches to go from the reset position (FIG. 3A) to the IN position (FIG. 3B).

A novel and convenient way of keeping the templates 13 together in sequence is shown in FIG. 2. The templates 13 have a hole 27 drilled in the right end and are then sequentially positioned on a wire ring 29 much like the pages of a book. A separation washer 31 is placed between the first and last templates of the series. In the lower part of FIG. 2, the templates 13 on the right of the washer 31 would have already been used while the ones on the left are the next ones in sequence. The template 13 which extends outwardly to the left would be the one presently in use to enter the particular number represented thereby.

MODE OF OPERATION The operation of the hereinbefore described template will be presented in connection with a minicomputer such as, for example, the Datamate-l6 of Datamate Computer Systems, Inc. or the DM-l6 Computer of Ling Electronics, Anaheim, California. Application of the invention however is not restricted to this particular model. nor is it restricted to computer panels. With apparent minor modification, it can be equally useful with other control panels found on aircraft, guidance control, etc.

In order to bring a computer into the operational state. it is necessary to load a bootstrap program. The procedure is comparable to starting a gasoline engine. For this purpose the computer has a row of approximately 16 or more toggle switches on its control panel. The switches are usually positioned in groups of three and numbered from right to left starting at zero. In reset" position the switch is open corresponding to signal 0, and in IN position the switch is closed corresponding to signal I.

It is customary to identify the switches in a row by octal numbers. Instead of saying. for instance, put the 4 switches l5, 13, ll, 10, 4, 3, 0 to the IN position, the instruction says Enter or Load I2603 I This octal number means that the above numbered switches are set to IN while all other switches remain in reset.

In order to be able to set the switches, the operator must memorize the conversion table between one octal and three binary digits. With the conversion table in mind, he knows that in the utmost right group of three switches he has to activate switch No. 0. while switches l and 2 remain reset. In the next group he activates switches 3 and 4 while switch 5 remains reset," and so on until the octal number is entered. It is evident that even the most experienced operator may make an incorrect switch selection in the process of bootstrap loading wherein approximately 30 setting steps must be performed.

As shown in FIG. 1, the use of the template 13 permits the activation of the particular group of switches 19 corresponding to I2603l in a single operation. The template 13 is held beneath the handles 23 of the toggle switches 19. During upward movement of the template 13, the protruding teeth 15 contact certain of the handles 23 and cause them to be moved upward to the IN position. The switch handles 23 not contacted remain in the reset position. In order to properly locate the template 13 relative to the computer panel 17, it is caused to slide along the guide bar 25 on the left side. To reset all switches 19, the template 13 is held over the switch row and then moved downward. Thus, the six digit octal number 126031 has been entered by the action of a single switch setting step.

In bootstrap loading the Datamate-I6 is necessary to set switches in 24 setting steps each of which includes an octal number of multiple digits. For this operation it is helpful to place the 24 templates 13 corresponding to each of the octal set numbers sequentially in order on the ring 29. The first template would have a tooth arrangement corresponding to the first octal number, the second template corresponding to the second octal number, and so forth until the 24th template of the 24th octal number is placed on the ring 29. The washer 31 separates the first and last templates. Having used a template 13, it is folded over the ring 29 like the pages of a book. The templates always remain in sequence and. ordinarily, none can get lost or omitted.

From the foregoing description of the bootstrap loading operation, it can be seen that the operator may be completely unaware of which switches are set as well as which octal or binary numbers are used. He only need to be certain that the left side of the template slides along the guide bar 25. The procedure is performed many times faster than it could be done by manually setting each switch singly. Also, any possibility of setting an improper switch is eliminated. The importance of eliminating switch setting errors becomes extremely significant because a single setting error may overthrow the entire procedure of bootstrap loading.

Although the invention has been illustrated and tie scribed in terms of ap preferred embodiment thereof, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that certain changes, alterations, modifications and substitutions, can be made particularly with respect to the utilization of the templates with any central panel with a fewer or greater number of switches in one or more rows. It can be used wherever a number of selected switches has to be activated and reset. Besides the computer application hereinbefore described, the system is useful for setting the switches on an aircraft control panel, a missile guidance control or a tire arms control.

Having thus set forth and disclosed the nature of my invention, what I claim is:

1. Apparatus for simultaneously setting a number of toggle switches in a row on a control panel comprising. a plurality of elongated rectangular templates. a series of teeth on the inward edge of each of said templates and extending inwardly therefrom, said series of teeth contacting the handles of a predetermined group of switches on the control panel, and a guide bar fixedly positioned to slidably contact one end of said template to prevent lateral movement during the setting operation. in combination with a wire ring passing through aligned openings in each of the templates for holding and indexing said plurality of templates in the proper sequential order, and a separation washer positioned on said ring between the first and last of said plurality of templates such that each of the templates can be used individually in the proper sequence without removal from said ring whereby each template which is positioned in the proper location relative to the switches on the control panel can be provided with upward movement for simultaneously setting to the active position the particular group ofswitches corresponding to the pattern of teeth on the template.

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1. Apparatus for simultaneously setting a number of toggle switches in a row on a control panel comprising, a plurality of elongated rectangular templates, a series of teeth on the inward edge of each of said templates and extending inwardly therefrom, said series of teeth contacting the handles of a predetermined group of switches on the control panel, and a guide bar fixedly positioned to slidably contact one end of said template to prevent lateral movement during the setting operation, in combination with a wire ring passing through aligned openings in each of the templates for holding and indexing said plurality of templates in the proper sequential order, and a separation washer positioned on said ring between the first and last of said plurality of templates such that each of the templates can be used individually in the proper sequence without removal from said ring, wherEby each template which is positioned in the proper location relative to the switches on the control panel can be provided with upward movement for simultaneously setting to the active position the particular group of switches corresponding to the pattern of teeth on the template. 